Warnock in frame at Leeds after Bates loses patience with Grayson

Neil Warnock faces some hard
bargaining with Leeds chairman Ken Bates if he is to make a swift return
to management at Elland Road.

Bates ran out of patience with Simon
Grayson on Wednedsay and is set to turn to former QPR boss Warnock this
month, as forecast in Sportsmail.

In with a shout: Warnock (right) will have to convince bates (left) he's worth it

But Sheffield-born Warnock's
£15,000-a-week Loftus Road wage is double the amount Grayson earned at
Leeds and he will have to lower his sights to earn a deal.

The axe fell on Grayson after Tuesday's 4-1 home defeat by Birmingham, with assistant manager Glynn Snodin and coach Ian Miller following him out of the door.

Bates, 80, is looking for his fifth manager in seven years at Elland Road and has come under fire for imposing financial restraints and failing to prevent key players such as Max Gradel and Jonny Howson leaving.

Taxi: Simon Grayson was handed his marching orders by Leeds

But he said: 'At 30 players, we have one of the largest squads in the Championship, and bigger than some in the Premier League.

'We spent over £12million on wages, so why are people blaming me for the recent results? All the money we have received has gone back into the squad.

'The manager decides who he wants to buy, we as the board just pay for it. I only said no once.'